Atelier brunette Paris review

19th June 202013th June 2020 by Kar-Ling

This is a blog post on the Atelier brunette Paris review. Atelier Brunette is a, in my opinion, a mid-range market sewing and haberdashery shop. In the recent years, haberdashery shops have revolved from dinghy packed DIY-like shops to more mid-range market shops. This is also in the UK a wave of independent suppliers that … Read more

Sewing pyjama bottom using an existing pyjama.

16th April 20208th April 2020 by Kar-Ling

This a blog post on sewing pyjama bottom using an existing pyjama. I sew my 5-year-old son’s pyjama bottoms using an existing pattern. It is really easy. This pattern works with loose-fitting elasticated bottoms. It would not work for tight-fitting jeans or trousers. This is because they require more precision pattern blocks. Sewing them also … Read more

Sewing sheer fabric dress at home

30th March 202025th March 2020 by Kar-Ling

The blog post is on sewing a sheer fabric dress. I have sewn sheer fabrics in the past but not much in recent times. As I have sewing using stretch fabrics and wool fabrics. However, I saw this lovely silk organza fabric a past season by Dolce Gabanna and fell in love with it. It … Read more

Mary Quant Mini dress pattern free to download

21st March 202018th March 2020 by Kar-Ling

Here is an ongoing Mary Quant free Mini dress pattern currently still available to download. There are two dress patterns that are available to download. It was created as part of her recent exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. It had ended in February but the free patterns are still available. I have managed … Read more

Italian sewing magazines a review

30th October 201930th October 2019 by Kar-Ling

Here is my first hand experience of buying Italian sewing magazines while I was there in August. I love buying sewing magazines rather than patterns as you can get so many patterns in one magazine. Well that was at least with Burda magazine the UK edition. I have bought previously sewing magazines here in the … Read more

How to bias cut

10th September 202117th October 2018 by Kar-Ling

I have made a dress using bias cut as I bought a horizon patterned fabric online. What I was thinking?!! It is something I don’t normally do as most patterns don’t normally recommend cutting on bias. Therefore this post is on how to bias cut for making a dress.

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An alternative for horizontal pattern fabrics

I didn’t want to have a horizontal pattern dress as it will make me look fatter than I am actually is. It is an amazing cut as it allows the fabric flow on the body better that the usual straight grain cut.

Therefore it is recommend for dress fabrics. I am using silk crepe fabric. Bias strip is use in a lot of bias strips cut as it allows the most stretch.

It is also recommended in making wedding dresses as well. For example the famous Pippa Middleton’s bridesmaid dress for the royal wedding a few years back.

However, it does use more fabric than usual I got about 3meters X 1.4meters fabric compare to the recommended fabric on the pattern 2.6meters X 1.4 meters. Something to keep in mind.

It is easy to cut the fabric on bias just fold the fabric at 45 degree angle (you will end up a triangle) like below. One tip is always to leave enough seam allowance for the back panel. If you used to cutting dress patterns on a straight grain fabric(like me), when cutting out the back panel I always put it by selvage (edge of the fabric). This is where there is always extra fabric at the edge however not a fold. So it is something to keep in mind when using bias cut. I did make a mistake this time but I did manage to rectify it.

By putting on selvedge helps in cutting out as it doesn’t fray at all. It saves the need of overlocking the fabric.

I just love the flow and look of the end result. Dress pattern is from a recent burda style pattern magazine in which I love to use. Bias cut works with any dress patterns. So not just burda style.

In summary I would like to recap on how to cut on bias. By making sure there is always enough fabric, and leave some seam allowance on the fold. It does use a bit more fabric than usual but the end result it’s fantastic. So do give it a try if you haven’t. If you have do leave some comments below.

This is the result of the dress I made back view.